Cut-out machine for shoe uppers



B. w. FREEMAN Re. 20,202 CUT-OUT MACHINE FOR SHOE UPPERS 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Deo. 3

ATTORNEYS.

Dec.'8, 1936. B w. FREEMANA Re. 20,202

CUT-OUT MACHINE FOR SHOE UPPERS l original Filed Dec. s, 192s s sheets-sheet z 75' G. v5. 76 um INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYJ.

Dec. 8, 1936. B. w. FREEMAN CUT-OUT MACHINE FOR SHOE UPPERS Original Filed Dec, 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' INVENTOR. fMlAM/N W Fuz-MAM ATTORNEYS.

Reissued Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES u No. 108,479

My present invention is a -machinefor use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and particularly for forming the openwork or cut-out sections in shoe uppers, as well as being utilized for 5 all stamping work, perforating, ornamentationor the like, in connection with press machines.

This is a divisional reissue of my Letters Patent 1,681,033 dated August 14, 1928.

The device of this specification is particularly lo useful in the machine of my said Letters Patent ations for openwork shoes, following any design desired, as a machine action, and furthermore'as a machine operation either before or lafter the is shoe upper portions-vamp, foxing, quarters,

tip, etc.,are united and united into the complete shoe upper, and preferably also with the thus completed shoe upper united at the heel, thus forming the closed" article, 'open only at 2o top and bottom. There are numerous advantages and economies in being able to stitch the upper, vamp, quarters, foxinSS, etc., together, as

heel, 'inorder to have the` shoe upper otherwise u all ready for assembling on a lastas explained in my Letters Patent 1,675,295; but no machine prior to my own, so far as I am aware, has been capable of operating on such a closed upper to cut out the portions necessary to form the openwork n part of the same. My machine performs this cutting out operation and an important feature of the same is that it will operate with equal facility upon the sides of the upper, particularly a closed upper, upon the quarter sections, through the vamp,'foxing, tongue portion, or tip. I am enabled to perform these operations by vhaving portions of the work, upper or other material to be presented, while held/nat and preferably while a held under tension, and to provide ample spaces or clearance for those portions of the material not being acted on by the cutting devices.

My invention herein lies in the provision of a will enable the openwork designs or formations to be cut out entirely through the upper or upper and lining and without previously marking or forming any pattern on the work. This desirn cutting and work holding means which will enable the cutting devices to be alined or positioned with regard to a xed edge o portion of the shoe upper itself; thus insuring the cutting out action with exact uniformity upon successive uppers of l similar design. This feature is most important which is directed to perform the cutting outoperis now customary, and to unite the same at thel provided means which will enable any portion or machine and operating instrumentalitles which able result I accomplish by the provision of work PATENT OFFICE cU'r-ou'r moms Fon snor: Urrsns Benjamin W. Freeman. Cincinnati, Ohio Division A Division` of original No. 1,681,033, dated August 14, 1928, Serial No. 678,213, December 3, 1923. t t Application for reissue, 0cm

, 1936. Serial somma. (ci. ici-ssl in practice, as the cutting out action leaves a y plurality of narrow strips or straps and the spacing or width of l these straps is most important. By means of my invention, wherein the straps are formed with exact relation to the edge or predetermined portion of the shoe upper, such as the top seam, side stitching or other fixed portion in the design, the resulting openwork is formed accinately with all straps, widths andf strips of proper width, and with opposite quarter lo sections', for example, in perfect cooperation. This is an important advantage resulting from cutting out the openwork portions after the shoe upper sections have been stitched and united, as distinguished from rst cutting out the upper u sections and then stitching and uniting same.

To this end I utilize a clamping means either alone or as a combined clamp or holder for the work, and preferably as a guiding, or gauging or alining device, to insure that the cutting means and work will register. This enables me to eliminate entirely any marking or previousLy stencilling a design on the upper, before it is cut, as L can rely entirely upon the combined gauging and holding or clamping member to adjust the work relatively therewith, and theresulting cut- 25 ting out operation insures perfect registering and alining of the design cut out, as, for example, with the xed edges of a shoe upper. This lfea.- ture in practice gives the important advantage of enabling the operator to speed up work on this so machine, to quickly and accurately aline the work with regard to the clamp, because the latter is outside and on top of the work, while the cutting devices are underneath and out of sight. The 35 operator need only position the work with regard to the topmost portion of the cutting anvil, viz, the clamp, and then at once position the same under a moving part such as a plunger and the tripping of a treadle will complete the cutting out action.

' The clamping device as above noted constitutes also a protecting guard for that portion of the work adjacent the cutting'out devices, during the cutting operation, and furthermore I form this clamp as a complete guard -partly or entirely around the cut-out portion. Thus I hold the part of the work to be cutout, not merely at one or two points, but partly or entirely around the openwork portion to be formed, the clamp o being cut out proportionately or in cooperation e not lie evenly, and no prior clamping or holding devices of which I am aware, extended closely v adjacent the line of pressure of such prior machines, except only at the immediate front of the machine. My invention of a holding, protecting. and also gauging mask, performs the very important and vital function of clamping the material to be operated upon, sumciently along the side or sides of the cutting or omamenting action and preferably partly or even entirely around the portion to be operated upon. 'I'herefore, by extending my mask or clamping action beyond the former line of holding and partly surrounding the cut out or ornamented portion, I have eliminated prior dinlculties, and am thus enabled to operate upon dat bed work much more advantageously 4than was formerly possible. This clamp also. being of thin sheet metal, when adapted to press down upon a completed shoe upper. can easily have extra portions cut out, for any purpose as at-the tip seam or other place where there is an extra mass or thickness of material,

and thereby prevent damage *o the same, ellminate breaking of stitching, marring of patent leather, tearing strain on satin, suede or other material of which the upper is made.

Positioned and arranged under the protecting guard or mask I provide a yieldable element, cooperating with the portion of the material adjacent the sections to be cut out, to yield with the pressure or the plunger during the cutting out action, and acting as a "strippe element, during the release of thev pressure and to lift and restore the uncut part of the work above the cutting dies. 'I'his stripper element may be any yieldable member, such as a steel plate mounted on a plurality of springs and having a form or contour substantially corresponding to the design of the cut-out die and resulting cut out portions on the work. While I preferably utilize a metallic yielding strip, any yielding element such as rubber or the like can be employed for this yielding and stripping action.

Referring to the drawings. illustrating preferred embodiments of my present invention,`

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the left side of my machine showing an anvil die with mask.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cutting anvil showing one exempliiication of a design to be cut out, for example, on the upper of a shoe.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional side elevation of a carrying block with a cutting anvil positioned `thereon and vwith the upper in position to have a design such, for example, as that illustrated in Fig. 2 and stamped out therefrom, the protecting mask in this flgurebeing shown out of its normal position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to'Tlg. 3. but with the mask folded down in position on the upper and with the plunger oi' the press moving toward the cutting anvil. la. strip of heavy paper being positioned between the plunger and cutting anvil.

Flg.5iaavlewsimilartol*ig.4.butwiththe adoos plunger moved inta position, with respect to the anvil so as to cut out a design on the shoe upper.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a fragment of a stripper plate.

Fig(y 7 is a plan view showing the mask in position on an upper, and

Fig. 8 is a section on the line I1-I1 of Fig. 7.

The machine illustrated in Fig. l has a supporting b'ase 25 with guideways 25 thereon. The frame Ill extends upwardly and overhangs the base 25 and has guideways 22 for a pressure member or plunger 24. The mechanism is so arranged (see myA said Letters Patent 1,681,033) to cause the pressure member or plunger to descend upon release of a clutch this being inhibited until the die support is moved to a position under the pressure member.

Arranged for sliding movement in the guideways 25 on the top of the platen 25 is a base 56 which has secured thereon and at its upper end a cutting anvil 61, the details of which are described in Patent 1,681,033. As best shown in Fig. 1, the protecting spaces or clearances at each side of the slide 66 and cutting anvil 51, when 'the same is in operative position under the plunger, provides a substantial working space for the hands of the operator above the platen 25 and below the plunger face 2l of the machine and at the sides of the work supporting and cutting devices to facilitate adjusting and holding of the work without danger of injury to the operators hands.

Referring now to Figs. 2-8 inclusive wherein are shown the cuttingl anvil and attached work and mechanism, it will be noted by. reference to Fig. 3 that the anvil B1 is removably secured to the base 55 by stud'69 and wing nut 10, a pin 1I secured to the under side of the cutting anvil 51 cooperating with a hole 12 in the upper surface of the base 56 for correctly positioning the cutting anvil 61 on such base. The cutting anvil 51 is perforated at 13 and secured to the supper surface of the anvil by screws 14 is a cutting die 15, the cutting dies being of any shape or form such,

for example, as shown in my Patent No. 1,675,295.

Associated with the die structure 15 is a stripper plate 15 and lying between the stripper plate and the die structure 15 are compression springs 11 which tend to hold the stripper plate slightly above the plane in which lies the cutting edge of the die structure 15. Hingedly secured to the rear end of the cutting anvil 61 by hinge 18 is a mask 19. In this mask 19 is cut an opening .Il of such shape as to allow an upper 8| to be accurately positioned on the cutting anvil 61 with respect to the die 15 secured to such anvil. To facilitate the correct positioning of the upper on the cutting anvil 61, the contour of the opening l0, or certain portionsV of such contour, correspond in size and position, relative to the cutting die 15, with a seam or other fixed portion of the upper ll.. With kthis arrangement, it is possible to correctly position an upper on the cutting anvil and in proper registry with the cutting die 15, even though it is impossible. under the circumstances. to directly observe the relation existing between the cutting die and the upper because of the fact that such cutting die is completely hidden by the upper. The mask 19 is of the shape. in longitudinal section, as shown in Fig. 4; that is, the left hand portion adjacent the hinge member 18 is engaged by the portions 82 and 53 of the mask. Such portions will hold one end of the upper Bl in approximate position and the complete position of the upper -will then u take place, after which the operator will pull down the mask -19 into the position shown in Fig. 4 where it will be observed that the front portion oi the upper is engaged by the portions 84 and 95.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, it being assumed that such apparatus is constructed as above described. An appropriate cutting anvil 61lhaving secured thereon a cutting die 15 in which is fashioned the particular design desired to be cut from the material is provided. It is assumed that the design on the die 15 is that shown in Figs. 16 and 1'1 or may be that shown in Fig. 2. A mask 19 is provided with an appropriate cut out 4Bil of such shape as to allow the seam or other xed or nished part, on the upper to be clearly viewed through such opening and the seam properly centered with respect to the design on the die. This mask 19, to hold, to guard, guide, and protect the work is attached to the cutting anvil 61 by the hinge The operator slides the base 66 back or to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, throws the mask 19 into an upright position, as viewed in Fig. 3, places an upper 8| into approximate position over the die 15, then swings the mask 19 downward so that the portions 92 and 83 thereof engage with the upper andby grasping said upper on either side of the cutting anvil 61, the cut out portion 99 may be utilized as a means for registering and centering the seam or other finished part of the vof my work support which upper with respect to the design on the die 15 even though such die 15 is hidden from view by the upper and seam. After properly centering the upper 9|, the mask 19 is pulled down into the position shown in Fig. 4. The operator now moves the base 96 with the attached portions thereon in proper position to the left, as shown in Fig. 1, until such base is brought to rest by the stop block 69.

Thereupon by depression of a treadle the pressure member is-caused to strike the work, and cause the die to cut through the desired hole. As to aspects other than the mask,.the features are capable of use both in operating upon flat or sheet material, and the combination of lmaterials such as is presented in a shoe upper of joined parts, lining, etc., wherein clearance and space is provided around and about the support, preferably below the line' of the cutting operation, are covered elsewhere.

I may reverse `the cutting elements and cause them to move down from above. In certain embodiments the cutting die including the cutting instrumentalities, stripper plates, and guiding masks may be separated into cooperating or interchangeably locked parts.

My die with mask plate' will do all the operations heretofore performed upon tlat bed machines, and in addition thereto, will operate advantageously upon articles having a curved contour such as is presented in shoe uppers. For this latter work I may apply a fitted, partly tted, or completely tted andclosed upper on the work support, positioned either as shown in the drawings or in reverse direction, and indeed may position the work supporting slide either as shown 'or in reverse position.

My invention is further described and deiined in the form of claims as follows: 1. The combination of a support, an ornamenting die on the support, means for stripping a ahoeupper fromthe ornamennng diamdashoe upper gauging mask. said mask having position indicating means partially surrounding a portion of an upper'being ornamented and shaped to correspond with portions of the shoe upper design, whereby said upper may be correctly alignedwith said position indicating means.

2. The combination of a support, an ornamenting die on the support, means for stripping a shoe upper from the ornamenting die, and a shoe upper clamping mask, said mask having upper engaging means partially surrounding that portion of the upper being ornamented, and shaped to correspond with portions of the shoe upper design.

3.*The combination for use in a machine for ornamenting parts of boots and shoes, comprising ornamenting means, means for stripping the work from the ornamenting means, clamping means, supporting means upon which said ornamenting means is mounted, said clam-ping means constructed to hold a portion of the work and substantially surround the ornamenting means with its opening shaped to correspond with portions of the shoe-upper design.

4. A'support for shoe upper material to be ornamented, comprising an ornamenting and stripping means mounted thereon, and a clamping mask cooperating with said stripping means to hold a portion of shoe upper material under tension, said mask being provided with an edge portion to tion of the upper material to be ornamented, said edge portion being'shaped to act as a gauge for the positioning of the material beneath the mask.

5. In combination with al cutting die having cutting edges for cutting designs in shoe upper materials, a support for the die and a mask cooperating therewith. said mask constructed with one or more openings to partially surround the cutting edges of the die and adapted to be pressed against the work, the mask portions surrounding said openings shaped to correspond with portions of the upper `material design.

6. In combination with a cutting die having cutting edges for cutting designs in shoe upper material, a support for the die and a mask cooperating therewith, said mask being provided with one or more edge portions to partially surround the cutting edges of the die, said -edge or edge portions shaped to act as a gauge for the positloning of the material beneath the mask.

'1. A support for shoe upper material and a clamping member cooperating therewith constructed and .arranged to provide a preliminary yielding engagement permitting adjustment of the material, and subsequently a rm holding engagement therewith.

8. In combination, a cutting die provided with cutting edges, a support for said die, a mask for the cutting die mounted on said support, comprising a fiat plate adapted to be pressed against the work, said plate being provided with an opening through which the work may be observed and accurately positioned with respect to the cutting edges of the die.

9. In combination, a cutting die provided with cutting edges, and a holddown plate forthe cutting die comprising a flat plate adapted to be pressed against the work, said plate being provided with an opening to surround the cutting edges of the die, one edge of said opening being arranged to act as a gauge for the positioning of a piece of work beneath the holddown.

BENJAMIN W. FREEMAN.

partially' surround that por- 

